Iraqi Refugee Camp Food Poisoning Kills 1, Sickens Hundreds

Iraqi women and children queue for food in Debaga refugee camp where people displaced by fighting in and around Mosul have sought shelter, on Oct. 22, 2016 in Debaga near Mosul, Iraq. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

"The police authorities are currently carrying out an investigation into the incident," the UNHCR said in a statement on Facebook Tuesday. "… Staff have been working closely overnight to coordinate the response with other agencies and the relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Baghdad to ensure that those who have fallen ill were able to receive swift medical treatment and that the seriously sick were provided transport to nearby hospitals.

"Extra clean water is now being provided at the camp and additional health agencies have been brought in to help in the response," the statement continued.

Erbil-based Dr. Hersh Qadir Barzinji told Rudaw that the symptoms included severe vomiting and dehydration, with the most critical cases taken to hospitals in Erbil and Khabat by ambulance.

Rizgar Obed, camp supervisor from the Barzani Charity Foundation, told Rudaw that officials there had originally banned outside organizations from bringing food to the camp, but they changed the regulations because they were "under great pressure."

The refugee camp was opened by UNHCR in May and has the capacity to accommodate 9,000 people, wrote Rudaw. The UNHCR said that the camp is servicing displaced people from the western Mosul where the U.S.-supported Iraqi forces have been rooting out Islamic State militants since February.